Tablet cassette cabinet assembly for automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system

ABSTRACT

An automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system includes a tablet packaging unit, a base cabinet, a swing cabinet, tablet cassettes in each cabinet and tablet passages for dropping tablets. The base cabinet is mounted on top of the packaging unit. The swing cabinet is swingably engaged to the base cabinet so the swing cabinet becomes swingable to and from the front surface of the base cabinet, whereby the first swing cabinet is attached to and swiveled on the base cabinet to open when required. The tablet cassettes are detachably racked in said each cabinet in columns and rows. When the swing cabinet is swung open, the tablet passages of the swing cabinet are externally exposed to facilitate either cleaning or vacuuming of the tablet passages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a pharmaceutical automation system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tablet cassette cabinet assembly for an automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system, which substantially increases tablet cassette capacity within a limited space reserved for the system while improving tablet cassette management efficiency.

[0002] An automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system is generally provided with a tablet packaging portion and a tablet dropping portion placed above the packaging portion. The tablet dropping portion includes a plurality of tablet cassettes containing different sets of tablets.

[0003] In order to increase capacity for housing the tablet cassettes, a flat type cabinet or a cylindrical type cabinet has been widely adopted to stack therein as many tablet cassettes as the system allows. Each tablet in the tablet cassettes comes to fall through a hole into the tablet packaging portion. So each hole inevitably holds on its wall either dusts or debris out of the dropping tablets. A tiny amount of tablet debris may result in medical care for a patient taking tablets packaged through the conventional tablet dispensing and packaging system.

[0004] A strong demand is to construct a system such that the hole for tablet passage can be easily cleaned or vacuumed while increasing system capacity of housing tablet cassettes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system that facilitates cleaning and vacuuming of tablet passages through which tablets are dropped in a tablet packaging unit.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to substantially increase capacity of housing tablet cassettes in the system while facilitating management efficiency of the system.

[0007] To achieve the above-described objects, an automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system according to the present invention comprises a tablet packaging unit having an upper portion and a base cabinet having a front surface and side ends. The base cabinet is mounted on top of the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit.

[0008] The system also includes a first swing cabinet having a rear surface and side edges. A selected one of the side edges is swingably engaged to one of the side ends of the base cabinet so that the first swing cabinet becomes swingable to and from the front surface of the base cabinet, whereby the first swing cabinet is attached to and swiveled on the base cabinet to open when required. The system further includes a plurality of tablet cassettes each containing therein and dropping therefrom a predetermined number of tablets, wherein the tablet cassettes are detachably racked in said each cabinet in columns and rows.

[0009] For a better performance, the system includes a plurality of upright tablet passages attached to said each cabinet to communicate with the tablet cassettes in said each cabinet. The upright tablet passages are aligned with the tablet cassette columns to facilitate the tablet guidance from the tablet cassettes into the tablet packaging unit. When the first swing cabinet is swung open the upright tablet passages of the first swing cabinet are externally exposed to facilitate either cleaning or vacuuming of the tablet passages. The first swing cabinet is foldable so that the rear surface of the first swing cabinet can be overlapped to itself when folded.

[0010] For a better performance, there are provided first and second swing cabinets each defined by a front surface, a rear surface, an inner side end and an outer side end, wherein said each swing cabinet is linearly aligned such that the inner side ends of the swing cabinets approach each other, wherein one of the side ends of said each swing cabinet is swingably engaged to the base cabinet so that the first and second swing cabinets become swingable to and from the front surface of the base cabinet, whereby the first swing cabinet is attached to and swiveled on the base cabinet to open when required.

[0011] The advantages of the present invention are numerous in that: (1) the foldable mechanism of the tablet cassette cabinets enables a simultaneous vacuuming of each tablet passage in each cabinet by simply opening the swing cabinet from the base cabinet, wherein each tablet is dropped from each tablet cassette through the upright tablet passage into the tablet packaging unit; (2) a substantially increased number of tablet cassettes can be accommodated in the system according to the present invention without requiring additional installation space by providing the swiveling multiple cabinet mechanism; and (3) the swiveling cabinet system enables an additional cabinet installation with ease when required, thereby increasing tablet cassette capacity.

[0012] Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system according to the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a cabinet-opened front view of the automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system according to the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a structural view showing a tablet cassette and an annexed tablet passage for the system of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the system in FIG. 1, wherein two rows of tablet cassettes are aligned such that tablet passages face each other;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the system in FIG. 1, wherein two rows of tablet cassettes are aligned such that tablet passages are spaced from each other; and

[0019] FIGS. 6-8 are operation views showing respective operations of cabinets according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system 10 according to the present invention includes a tablet packaging unit 12, a base cabinet 14, a first swing cabinet 16 and a second swing cabinet 18. The tablet packaging unit 12 includes an upper portion 20. The base cabinet 14 is mounted on top of the upper portion 20 of the tablet packaging unit 12.

[0021] Each cabinet 14, 16, 18 is formed to supportedly contain a plurality of tablet cassettes 24 and tablet passages 26 communicating with the tablet cassettes 24 which are upright-aligned in columns and rows. As further shown in FIG. 3, a predetermined kind of tablets 28 are stored in each tablet cassette 24 in form of capsules or pills and a designated amount of tablets 28 are controllably released one by one into the tablet passages 26. The tablets 28 released from each tablet cassette 24 are guided by each tablet passage 26 into a guide hopper 30 and then into the tablet packaging unit 12.

[0022] In FIG. 2, the base cabinet 14 is defined by a front surface 13 and side ends 15, and the first and second swing cabinets 16, 18 are each defined by a rear surface 32 and side edges 34 such that the side edges 34 of the swing cabinets 16, 18 become swingably engaged to the side ends 15 of the base cabinet 14. For the swingable engagement between the base cabinet 14 and the swing cabinets 16, 18 there may be employed connection devices such as hinges, swivels, hooks, and other known connection derivatives.

[0023] In this cabinet construction, the swing cabinets 16, 18 become swingable onto and from the front surface 13 of the base cabinet 14 so that the first and second swing cabinets 16, 18 can be attached to and swiveled on the base cabinet 14 to open when required.

[0024] With the provision of the tablet cassette cabinets 14, 16, 18 in the tablet dispensing and packaging system 10, the plurality of tablet cassettes 24 each serve to contain therein and drop therefrom a predetermined number of tablets, and each tablet cassette 24 is detachably racked in each cabinet 14, 16, 18 in alignment of columns and rows.

[0025] Further referring to FIG. 3, the tablet passages 26 are formed in an upright alignment and attached to each cabinet while communicating with the corresponding tablet cassettes in each cabinet. The upright tablet passages 26 are aligned with the tablet cassette columns to facilitate the tablet guidance from the tablet cassettes 24 into the tablet packaging unit 12.

[0026]FIG. 4 shows a plan view of FIG. 1 reflecting FIG. 2, wherein the tablet passages 26 for the base cabinet 14 abut to the corresponding ones of the swing cabinets 16, 18. As shown therein, when the swing cabinets 16, 18 are swung open, the upright tablet passages 26 of the swing cabinets 18 are externally exposed so as to facilitate either cleaning or vacuuming of the tablet passages 26. Here, the cleaning or vacuuming of tablet passages 26 should be implemented not only for the tablet passages themselves but also for safety of patients who takes dosages prepared via the tablet dispensing and packaging system 10. Also, the upright tablet passages 26 for the base cabinets 14 are aligned in columns along the front surface 13 of the base cabinet 14 to further facilitate cleaning and vacuuming thereof.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, in an embodiment, the tablet cassettes 24 in the base cabinet 14 may be aligned to match with those in the swing cabinets 16, 18 depending on demands in the market. Still in this construction, the cleaning and vacuuming of the tablet passages 26 may be facilitated by a swingable alignment of the base cabinet 14.

[0028] With reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the swing cabinet opening mechanism of the present invention will now be described. In FIG. 6, the swing cabinet 16 is extended as long as the base cabinet 14 and rotatably connected to the base cabinet 14 by a hinge 40 so as to enable one of the side edges 34 of the swing cabinet 16 to swivel on a corresponding one of the side ends 15 of the base cabinet 14. Selectively, one or more additional swing cabinets can be connected by hinges to the first swing cabinet 16 to increase tablet cassette capacity in the tablet dispensing and packaging system 10.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 7, the first swing cabinet 16 may be foldably connected to the second swing cabinet 18 such that the rear surface 32 of each swing cabinet 16, 18 can be overlapped to itself when folded, thereby improving efficiency of tablet passage cleaning as well as cassette installation. FIG. 8 further demonstrates the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0030] Meanwhile, the guide hopper 30 is disposed beneath the cabinets 14, 16, 18 into the tablet packaging unit so as to guide the tablets 28 selectively dropped from the tablet cassettes 24 into the tablet packaging unit 12. A controller 42 may be provided adjacent to the tablet packaging unit 12 to administer the tablet dropping from the tablet cassettes 24 and the tablet packaging in the tablet packaging unit 12.

[0031] The tablet packaging unit 12 includes a printer 44 to print respective information on a packaging paper 48, a heater assembly 46 to package the tablets 28 released through the guide hopper 30 into one or more partitioned paper bags 50 using the packaging paper 48. As further shown in FIG. 8, a magnetic holder 52 may be formed on a central upper portion 54 of the base cabinet 14 to facilitate opening and closing of the swing cabinets 16, 18, wherein the magnetic holder 52 may be elastic.

[0032] The first and second swing cabinets 16, 18 in FIG. 8 are each defined by a front surface 33, a rear surface 32, an inner side end 35 and an outer side end 34, wherein said each swing cabinet 16, 18 is linearly aligned such that the inner side ends 35, 35 of the swing cabinets approach each other, wherein one of the side ends 34, 34 of said each swing cabinet 16, 18 is swingably engaged to the base cabinet 14 so that the first and second swing cabinets 16, 18 become swingable to and from the front surface 13 of the base cabinet 14. Accordingly, for example, the first swing cabinet 16 is attached to and swiveled on the base cabinet 14 to open when required.

[0033] The tablet dispensing and packaging system 10 in view of FIG. 8 may further include at least third and fourth swing cabinets (not shown) each defined by a front surface, a rear surface, and an inner side end and an outer side end, wherein the third and fourth swing cabinets are linearly aligned such that the inner side ends of the third and fourth swing cabinets approach each other, wherein one of the side ends of said each third and fourth swing cabinet is swingably engaged to each first and second base cabinet 16, 18.

[0034] As discussed above, the advantages of the automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system according to the present invention are numerous. First, the swingable mechanism of the tablet cassette cabinets enables a simultaneous vacuuming of each tablet passage in each cabinet by simply opening the swing cabinets from the base cabinet, wherein each tablet is dropped from each tablet cassette through the upright tablet passage into the tablet packaging unit.

[0035] Further, a substantially increased number of tablet cassettes can be accommodated in the system according to the present invention without requiring additional installation space by providing the swiveling multiple cabinet mechanism. In addition, the swiveling cabinet system enables an additional cabinet installation with ease when required, thereby increasing tablet cassette capacity.

[0036] Although the invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible by converting the aforementioned construction. Therefore, the scope of the invention shall not be limited by the specification specified above and the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system, comprising: a) a tablet packaging unit having an upper portion; b) a base cabinet having a front surface and side ends, wherein the base cabinet is mounted on top of the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit; c) a first swing cabinet having a rear surface and side edges, wherein a selected one of the side edges is swingably engaged to one of the side ends of the base cabinet so that the first swing cabinet becomes swingable to and from the front surface of the base cabinet, whereby the first swing cabinet is attached to and swiveled on the base cabinet to open when required; d) a plurality of tablet cassettes each containing therein and dropping therefrom a predetermined number of tablets, wherein the tablet cassettes are detachably racked in said each cabinet in columns and rows; and e) a plurality of upright tablet passages attached to said each cabinet to communicate with the tablet cassettes in said each cabinet, wherein the upright tablet passages are aligned with the tablet cassette columns to facilitate the tablet guidance from the tablet cassettes into the tablet packaging unit, wherein when the first swing cabinet is swung open the upright tablet passages of the first swing cabinet are externally exposed to facilitate either cleaning or vacuuming of the tablet passages.
 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a) a guide hopper disposed beneath the cabinets into the tablet packaging unit so as to guide the tablets selectively dropped from the tablet cassettes into the tablet packaging unit; and b) a controller to administer the tablet dropping from the tablet cassettes and the tablet packaging in the tablet packaging unit.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first swing cabinet is foldable so that the rear surface of the first swing cabinet can be overlapped to itself when folded.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first swing cabinet is hingedly connected to the base cabinet.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the upright tablet passages for the base cabinet are aligned in columns along the front surface of the base cabinet to facilitate cleaning and vacuuming thereof.
 6. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least a second swing cabinet having a rear surface and side edges, wherein a selected one of the side edges of the second swing cabinet is swingably engaged to the selected one of the side edges of the first swing cabinet, whereby the second swing cabinet is swiveled on the first swing cabinet.
 7. The system of claim 6 wherein the second swing cabinet is foldable so that the rear surface of the second swing cabinet can be overlapped to itself when folded.
 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the tablet packaging unit comprises: a) a printer to print respective information on a packaging paper; and b) a heater assembly to package the tablets released through the hopper into one or more partitioned paper bags using the packaging paper.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein a magnetic holder is formed on a central upper portion of the base cabinet to facilitate opening and closing of the swing cabinet.
 10. The system of claim 9 wherein the magnetic holder is elastic.
 11. An automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system, comprising: a) a tablet packaging unit having an upper portion; b) a base cabinet having a front surface and side ends, wherein the base cabinet is mounted on top of the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit; c) first and second swing cabinets each defined by a front surface, a rear surface, an inner side end and an outer side end, wherein said each swing cabinet is linearly aligned such that the inner side ends of the swing cabinets approach each other, wherein one of the side ends of said each swing cabinet is swingably engaged to the base cabinet so that the first and second swing cabinets become swingable to and from the front surface of the base cabinet, whereby the first swing cabinet is attached to and swiveled on the base cabinet to open when required; d) a plurality of tablet cassettes each containing therein and dropping therefrom a predetermined number of tablets, wherein the tablet cassettes are detachably racked in said each cabinet in columns and rows; and e) a plurality of upright tablet passages attached to said each cabinet to communicate with the tablet cassettes in said each cabinet, wherein the upright tablet passages are aligned with the tablet cassette columns to facilitate the tablet guidance from the tablet cassettes into the tablet packaging unit, wherein when the first swing cabinet is swung open the upright tablet passages of the first swing cabinet are externally exposed to facilitate either cleaning or vacuuming of the tablet passages.
 12. The system of claim 11 further comprising: a) a guide hopper disposed beneath the cabinets into the tablet packaging unit so as to guide the tablets selectively dropped from the tablet cassettes into the tablet packaging unit; and b) a controller to administer the tablet dropping from the tablet cassettes and the tablet packaging in the tablet packaging unit.
 13. The system of claim 11 wherein the first and second swing cabinets are hingedly connected to the base cabinet.
 14. The system of claim 11 further comprising at least third and fourth swing cabinets each defined by a front surface, a rear surface, and an inner side end and an outer side end, wherein the third and fourth swing cabinets are linearly aligned such that the inner side ends of the third and fourth swing cabinets approach each other, wherein one of the side ends of said each third and fourth swing cabinet is swingably engaged to said each first and second base cabinet
 15. The system of claim 11 wherein the upright tablet passages for the base cabinet are aligned in columns along the front surface of the base cabinet so that the upright tablet passages of the base cabinet face against those of the first and second swing cabinets.
 16. The system of claim 11 wherein the tablet packaging unit comprises: a) a printer to print respective information on a packaging paper; and b) a heater assembly to package the tablets released through the hopper into one or more partitioned paper bags using the packaging paper.
 17. The system of claim 11 wherein a magnetic holder is formed on a central upper portion of the base cabinet to facilitate opening and closing of the swing cabinets.
 18. The system of claim 11 wherein the magnetic holder is elastic. 